Arsenal are to step up their search for Arsene Wenger’s replacement in the coming weeks as they look to get a new man in place before the end of May.

Wenger’s final game will either come at Huddersfield on May 13, or three days later in the Europa League final in Lyon, should Arsenal see off Atletico Madrid during the next week.

And by then the Gunners hope to be closing in on the man who will fill the void left by the Frenchman, who is stepping down after 22 years at the helm in north London.

A three-man recruitment team is leading the search for Wenger’s successor, led by chief executive Ivan Gazidis and aided by head of football relations Raul Sanllehi and head of recruitment Sven Mislintat.

The trio are currently sounding out candidates and will soon hold interviews before ultimately selecting their preferred choice and putting the name forward to majority shareholder Stan Kroenke, who will have the casting vote.

But as it stands there is no stand out candidate, as those leading the search for Arsenal’s next manager have very different views on who should get the job.

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“It's important to me that we continue the football values that Arsene has instilled in the club,” said Gazidis. “So I want to somebody who can continue that for our fans and our fans want to see that. Somebody who will continue to play progressive, exciting football that gets people interested and excited in the games that we play.

"But also I think there is also a significant piece with Arsenal Football Club in how the candidate represents the club. That's also important to me and I think it's important to Arsenal fans.

“You mentioned again "replace Arsene" but that's not going to happen. What we have to do is make sure we don't lose his qualities and his values within the club and that we take them forward. I am absolutely committed to doing that."

Mikel Arteta was a hugely popular figure at Arsenal. (Image: Getty)

Arteta ticks all those boxes. The way he carried himself as club captain made a lasting impression on those in the corridors of power at the Emirates and reports Arsenal have received of Arteta’s work at City have been impressive.

Unlike the other names in the frame, Arteta has no management experience, but that does not rule him out of race.

"I think we've got to be open-minded and also brave in the decision,” said Gazidis. “When Arsene was appointed, I don't think he was on many people's radar screens. That doesn't mean that we have to make another appointment that not everybody is thinking about and talking about but it does mean we need to be bold in the appointment and get the person we believe is the right person."

Luis Enrique - Wanted by Raul Sanllehi

Talks between Arsenal and Enrique are already well underway and the Spaniard is currently seen as the frontrunner to replace Wenger.

Head of football relations Sanllehi has been holding the talks with the 47-year-old and is keen on rekindling the partnership they shared at Barcelona, where Sanllehi was director of football during Enrique’s successful time in charge.

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Enrique, who has taken a break from football since leaving the Camp Nou last year, is believed to be keen on succeeding Wenger because he likes the Arsenal project.

He is the favourites with the bookies, but one big draw back could be his wage demands, which are believed to be in excess of what Wenger is currently earning.

There is also a sense that Enrique is not the sort of character who will stick around for the long-term, which is not really something that fits Gazidis’ criteria.

Julian Nagelsmann - Wanted by Sven Mislintat

The youngest of all the potential replacements for Wenger, Nagelsmann has been a sensation in Germany since taking over at Hoffenheim.

He was named manager at the age of just 28, the youngest ever manager in Bundesliga history, and under his guidance Hoffenheim have been transformed.

When he was appointed they were seven points from safety and staring relegation in the face, but he led them to seven wins from the final 14 games and kept them in the German top flight.

Hoffenheim manager Julian Nagelsmann has had an incredible start to his coaching career.

The following season they finished fourth and qualified for the Champiosn League for the first time in the club’s history.

Nagelsmann, now 30, is seen as a dynamic coach who can get the best out of underperforming players and also as someone who can help youngsters progress, something that is seen as important at the Emirates.

Sven Mislintat knows Nagelsmann well from his time in Germany and believes he has what it takes to take over from Wenger. Current Schalke boss Domenico Tedesco is also on Mislintat’s wishlist.

Patrick Vieira - Backed by Arsene Wenger, appreciated by Gazidis

Arsenal’s former midfielder is on the shortlist to replace Wenger and has the backing of Arsene Wenger.

Vieira ticks a lot of the boxes set by Gazidis for the new man having spent nine years at Arsenal working under Wenger and winning trophies.

Like Arteta, he is currently part of the City Football Group, with the Frenchman head coach at New York City FC. Before moving to the Sates, he was the reserve team and elite development squad manager at Manchester City, a role he spent two years in.

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When revealing the criteria for the manager search, Gazidis said: “Our academy teams are doing extremely well. Under the radar, we have a lot of young players coming through into our first team. Not just ones that you already know about but the next generation as well. So that value of giving youth a chance is also very important to the football club.”

Vieira is certainly viewed as someone who would work well with the younger players at the club.

When asked about his former player returning to Arsenal as manager, Wenger said: “He's a guy who has the potential one day, yes.